Can the Atlanta Hawks pick up a win at home? The Phoenix Suns come into town for a Friday-night showdown.
The Atlanta Hawks (21–25) are set to take on the Phoenix Suns on Friday night at State Farm Arena, closing out a week that has already tested their resilience. After snapping a four-game losing streak with a road win against Memphis, Atlanta returns home for a two-game set that carries added weight as the All-Star break approaches.
Atlanta is just 7–13 at home, leaving little margin for error. This stretch is not only about trying to even that record, but also about pushing closer to .500 and creating separation from the bottom of the Eastern Conference. With the schedule tightening, every home game has begun to feel less like routine and more like an opportunity the Hawks cannot afford to waste.
Jalen Johnson continues to carry the freight offensively. He is coming off a dominant performance in Memphis, finishing with 32 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, and has now posted back-to-back games with at least 15 rebounds. Nickeil Alexander-Walker has also been a consistent factor on the offensive end, providing secondary scoring and balance. Atlanta understands what it has in Johnson and Alexander-Walker, but recent results have underscored how much the supporting cast must deliver in key moments, particularly against upper-tier competition. Losses to teams such as the Lakers and Celtics illustrated that gap.
Friday presents another measuring stick, and it will require a complete, connected effort. Phoenix enters at 27–17, riding a three-game winning streak and looking to close its six-game East Coast road trip on a high note. The Suns continue to adjust after moving on from Kevin Durant, but they remain dangerous and difficult to prepare for.
A key variable is the return of Jalen Green, who rejoined the lineup Tuesday in a 116–110 win over Philadelphia after missing significant time with a right hamstring injury. Limited to just three games this season prior to his return, Green came off the bench for the first time in his career and scored 12 points in 20 minutes. His workload remains monitored, though a return to the starting lineup could come as soon as Friday.
“I think we just continue to get better,” Phoenix coach Jordan Ott said. “Even when it doesn’t feel great, we’ve found ways to win. We’re implementing a big piece on the fly here and we’ll learn from that.”
For Green, simply being back on the floor provided a lift.
“I’ve been out for so long, just had to get my feet wet,” Green said. “It felt good being back with the team, back with the guys. They’ve been all supporting me through this whole time, so just happy to be back out there.”
Green, who owns a career scoring average of 20.1 points, was acquired alongside Dillon Brooks in the multi-team deal that sent Durant to Houston. He is expected to form a high-powered trio with Devin Booker, who scored 27 against the 76ers and is averaging 25.3 points this season.
“I’m excited for him,” Booker said. “He’s been with us through the whole process. I’ve been watching him grind. He can make plays for other people and he gives us another presence in the paint. The speed is there.”
Atlanta continues to experiment with lineups following the Jan. 7 acquisitions of CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, while managing injuries to Kristaps Porzingis and Zaccharie Risacher. McCollum’s impact was immediate in Memphis, where a late defensive sequence swung momentum after a rare turnover.
“He doesn’t make that kind of turnover,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “So, to see him respond and steal the ball at the other end, it says a lot about who he is. He’s a winner. That was a winning play.”
With both teams coming off tight, emotionally charged games, Friday’s matchup has the feel of another contest likely to be decided late. Atlanta won the first meeting 124–122 in Phoenix on Nov. 16. Repeating that result at home would not only reinforce recent progress, but also provide a timely boost as the Hawks head into a pivotal stretch of the season.